Pupils will be forced to study English and maths until they pass (Picture: PA)

Teenagers who fail to get grade C or above at English and maths GCSEs will be forced to continue studying them until they pass.

They will have to continue with the subjects until they are least 18 if they cannot get through the exams.

The reform will be introduced from the start of next term – which begins this week for many schools – and comes as the minimum age for leaving education is raised to 17.

Education secretary Michael Gove said: ‘Good qualifications in English and maths are what employers demand before all others.

‘They are, quite simply, the most important vocational skills a young person can have. Young people must be able to demonstrate their understanding of these subjects.’

The reform will be introduced before the start of next term (Picture: PA)

But Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, told Metro: ‘There will be some, in particular those with special educational needs, for whom achieving a C grade will be simply impossible.’

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Figures show that 285,000 young people leave school at 16 without a C or higher in both English and maths. Most of them do not gain the qualification by 19.

Britain also lags well behind many other countries in the number of children who study the subjects beyond the age of 16.

The situation was described as ‘scandalous’ by Prof Alison Wolf, who called for the changes in a 2011 review of vocational education.

She said she was delighted her recommendations would be implemented, adding that it would have a ‘hugely positive impact on the ability of hundreds of thousands of young people to get good jobs’.

Youngsters will be expected to try to achieve a grade C but they can also take other qualifications, such as functional skills and maths courses, recognised as a ‘stepping stone’ to GCSEs.

From this term, all children will be obliged to stay in education or training until 17 and by 2015 the limit will be raised to 18.